AAF Website Member Accounts
What can I do with an account on the AAF Website?
Many things. For a start, there is a complete contact list of members. This is private and confidential, only accessible by paid members, and only if that member has consented to make their contact details available.
Minutes of meetings - Council meetings and General meetings - are kept in the members-only section of the website.
But wait - that's not all!
Having an account on the website means that you can create content.
- Events: Any event that members might be interested in can be listed on the site. Events can be downloaded and automatically added to your Outlook, Google Calendar or iCal.
- News: Any information you wish to share with the public, including event wrap-ups, notifications of group purchases, or results of meetings.
- Articles: How-tos, research notes, subject matter news and information. Articles can be classified by subject so that they appear in particular areas of the site.
- Photos: In the Gallery section of the site, anyone can share the best publicity photos. Great for generating interest among members of the public.
- Links: Websites of interest, including pages for other groups, resources for research, online shops for buying gear and more.
- Items for sale (Classifieds): The AAF website has a fully-featured Marketplace where you can list any items or services you wish to sell. Transactions must be undertaken offline - we do not (yet!) have the facility for online sales.
All these can be listed on the website simply by logging in with your email address and the password that will be provided. Most content must be approved before going live - this can be done either by me, or by any Council member. This is simply to ensure that we maintain the high standard of content that we wish the public to see. Note that any item can be restricted so that it can be viewed by paid members only.
What else?
Soon I will be implementing a system of voluntary profiles, so that if you wish, you can be found by using the website search for particular subjects. If you are interested in learning how to tablet weave, you will be able to search for "tablet weaving" on the website and receive not only articles, but the profiles of the people who are willing to help you with your tablet weaving. If you want to know more about the Normans, you will be able to find people who can help you with that.
Is it hard?
There is a certain amount of knowledge required in order to create content, but it is not difficult to learn. You don't need to know any code whatsoever. There are basic instructions in your personal folder, but I can provide more detailed coaching as required.
My personal folder? What's that?
All accounts on the site get a Folder where they can upload Events, News items or articles. You can access this folder when you have logged on by clicking your name in the top right corner and selecting My Folder.
Other types of content such as photos, links and classifieds are added directly to the relevant areas of the site.
What if I think something should be on the site, but I don't know how/am confused/am too lazy to do it myself?
Email it to me and I'll put it up. I can also help you to learn how the site works so that in future, if you wish, you can do it yourself.
I'm not a paid member. Can I put stuff up?
No. But perhaps you can ask a paid member to do it for you.
What if I forget my password?
You will be provided with a password when your account is created, which you will receive by email. When you log onto the site, your User ID is simply the email address you put on your membership form. If you forget your password, you can have a new one sent to that address by clicking a link on the login page.
Sounds great!
It is. If you are a paid member, you should receive your login details within the next couple of weeks. Accounts are created manually, and it's a multi-step process. So it will take some time to get to everyone.
